Army Challenge Coins

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

Army Challenge Coins…What are they? What do they mean? They are believed to go all the way back to World War I, being given out to any soldier who completed a special task. These military challenge coins were often used as a form of proof of being a US soldier, if one was somehow captured by an allied nation. Of course, many believe that soldiers enjoyed getting challenge coins, simply because they could. Whether it was collecting them for fun or as proof that they did something worthy of praise, they certainly made being a soldier that much more enjoyable.

Army Challenge Coins

An outstanding challenge coin made for the US Army.

US Army Challenge Coins are round and are between 1 1/2 and 2 inches in diameter. There are many designs on these military challenge coins on both sides. The military challenge coins are made for high-ranking officers, units, and conflict. Many Army soldiers buy challenge coins to help out with fundraisers. Of course, when they’re given out, it’s always for something special. They’ve been given to presidents like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as civilians for doing anything worthy of praise.

Almost always, though, Army challenge coins are given to soldiers who put their life on the line. Whether it’s saving their unit, completing their mission under dire circumstances, or even giving up their life in order to do something for the greater good, those are the things that a military challenge coin represents for a US Army soldier. That is why if you ever see a US Army soldier, or anyone from the military with a challenge coin from their respective branch, you’ll know that it means more to them than any badge on their uniform.

The families of the soldiers who passed away are always given military challenge coins in the honor of their relative that gave his life for the right cause. Families will wear necklaces with many challenge coins to honor their relative. Police and Fire Departments of the city that an Army soldier resides will present challenge coins to the soldier as a way of showing what they mean to the city. There is no greater honor than being shown the respect of the entire city in the form of a military challenge coin.

So, other than challenge coins being given out for completing special, or life-threatening tasks, or simply helping society, what is the meaning for soldiers in the Army other than bragging rights? Well, actually that’s the fun part! When a soldier has his challenge coin out in the open in front of other soldiers, it is often believed to be a challenge. If other soldiers around can’t present a coin, they’re forced to buy a round of drinks for the challenger and everyone else who was challenged.

The next time a US Army soldier is in the area, and a challenge coin is present, just remember what the soldier has gone through in order to attain such an astounding accomplishment.

Posted in Army Challenge Coins, Challenge Coins, Custom Challenge Coins | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Army Challenge Coins

Don’t Be Caught Without Your Challenge Coin

Posted on September 22, 2010 by admin

Navy Challenge Coins

How would you like to be challenged by the Commander in Chief to present your coin...always have it on hand.

Military challenge coins are well-named. When challenged by a member of your group, you must present your challenge coin immediately, or face the consequences.

This game got a foothold in the U.S. military during the Second World War It is a variation of the penny challenge that soldiers played in Germany. During a penny challenge, any customer in a tavern could loudly demand that everybody else produce a penny. Those without a penny, or the last to produce theirs, were forced to buy a round of drinks for the house.

Military challenge coins began as coins that were minted to honor the members of a military group or squadron. Should an honored member be found to be without his challenge coin during a challenge, he may have to buy a drink, or he might be forced do something far worse. The actual rules are subject to interpretation. Sub-rules exist for each group, but the basic concept for the challenge is two-fold.

If you’re asked to show your challenge coin by a fellow-member who has produced their coin, you must immediately do so. If you cannot, then you are in violation of the rules. If you are the last person to produce their coin when a verbal challenge is shouted in a bar, you are violating the rules again. The rules don’t care where you might be. If you’re in the shower, you better have your newly minted firefighter custom challenge coin, or you may have to wash the fleet of city fire trucks.

The spirit of the challenge is good fun. After all, if you buy your friends a round of drinks, you’ll have to enjoy them together. Any penalties or community service on your club’s behalf is charity work or would need to be taken care of sooner or later.

The point of the challenge is that if you were chosen to be honored with the coin, you should feel honored enough to carry it with you at all times. To forget your challenge coin is to disrespect it and if you forget it, the penalty must be paid. That’s the challenge.

Posted in Challenge Coins, Custom Challenge Coins, Military Coins | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Military Coins: A Tradition Adopted by Civilians

Posted on September 21, 2010 by admin

custom challenge coinsThe camaraderie of a group increases in direct proportion to the risks that the members face together. Esprit de corps is forged in a deed well-done. With public service comes pride-pride in the group’s accomplishments and the way the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Bonding in dangerous situations has long accompanied the military.

Military coins, or challenge coins, are small coins minted especially for distribution among a select group who have served together. They bear the insignia, emblem, or other identifying marks of their group. The first military coins were inspired by military service, as evidenced by their designs.

The challenge coin derived its name from a game played by United States soldiers while in Germany during World War II called a pfennig check. A pfennig is the German equivalent of the US penny. When a bar patron called for a pfennig check, the last person to produce a pfennig had to buy a round of drinks for the house.

Challenge coins must be carried at all times by the owner. If a coin-owner is challenged, at any time, to produce the coin and they cannot, they must pay the price. That includes time in the shower or in the bathroom. Of course, this is a good-natured competition meant to entertain the members of the group. The penalty is rarely more than buying drinks for those who can show their coin or perhaps some type of servitude for the betterment of the group (or the embarrassment of the loser).

The first challenge coins were allegedly minted of bronze for members of a United States Air Force squadron during World War II. A member of the squadron, who carried his coin in a small bag around his neck, was shot down and captured by German troops. He managed to escape while being moved to a prisoner of war camp. He was captured again, this time by a French patrol, which was lucky for him. However, the area in which he was found was known for traitors and spies. He was wearing civilian clothing when captured and had no identification. Unable to convince his captors that he was an American, the French prepared to execute him. He convinced them to halt the execution when he showed them his challenge coin with the US insignia on it.

Posted in Challenge Coins, Custom Challenge Coins, Military Coins | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Challenge Coin Folklore

Posted on September 19, 2010 by admin

marine challenge coin

A challenge coin isn't always round in shape - these unique bottle opener coins are also popular.

Where challenge coins originated from is a topic of much debate to this day. There is no evidence that will support the fact that the coins came from any particular military branch. However, the branch that does have the most proven history is the United States Army Air Service.

In World War 1, pilots volunteered to fly. Each volunteer pilot was selected to a squadron during their services. Pilots were from every walk of life. Some were born and raised on the farm while others left college to help. There was something intriguing about the power and the ability to fly that brought everyone interested in flying to sign up.

The legend most often told is of a wealthy lieutenant who was also a student ordered these small coins, or medallions that was made of pure bronze and gold plated. He passed them out to all the pilots that were in his squadron so they will have them to remember the sacrifice in service that they completed. The coin had the squadron’s insignia on it, which made the coins valuable to its members.

These military coins were so important to the men and one man in particular decided to place his coin in a leather pouch and wear it around his neck. Later on, this coin would actually save him from being executed by the French Army because the only proof he had on him was the challenge coin around his neck. After this situation, it then became a tradition to all the members who received a challenge coin to wear it or carry it all all times. Over time, these coins were used to challenge their fellow commando’s in the services but to the men that donned them, they knew what sacrifices took place to receive one.

The Challenge

A challenge identifies who is carrying their unit’s coin. A challenge may not be for just a particular unit, it may be for several different units. The only way you can participate in a challenge is if you have been issued a coin. The result of the challenge is to boost morale within the units participating in the challenge. However, when the challenge is forced it can also cause the unit to feel pressured.

To accept the challenge or to initiate the challenge, the coin is brought out of the pocket and placed on the table. A challenge is usually called in a bar. If the bar is too noisy, the coin may be tapped on the counter or table several times so everyone can hear the challenge. If the coin is dropped on the floor, even accidentally, it will be accepted as a challenge to everyone in the room. In order for everyone to participate they must have their coins. If everyone has their coin, the challenger must then buy each person one round of drinks.

There are a variety of rules that can be followed for each challenge. Stick with tradition, or make up your own unique challenge coin “challenge.”

Posted in Challenge Coins, Challenge Coins History, Military Coins | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Challenge Coins – Breaking the Mold

Posted on September 18, 2010 by admin

Challenge coins were always meant to show belonging and camaraderie. The group they belong to is restricted, limited, and unique. For those whose group is beyond the pale, more special than special delivery, and even more extraordinary than the Fantastic Four, challenge coins can be made in nearly any shape you can imagine.

Challenge coins are mostly 1.56 ” in diameter and 3 mm thick. Two other round diameters, 1.75″ and 2″, are common as well. Custom challenge coins in individual shapes and sizes can be created from a design or designed from a drawing or patch.

Antique Silver Challenge CoinThere are some shapes that are more conventional than a totally custom challenge coin. Shields are popular, as are various crosses, like the Iron Cross or Maltese Cross. Military challenge coins have been made in the shape of stars, crests, and wings. Police or firefighter challenge coins might be shaped like a sheriff’s badge, a seven-pointed star, a pentagon, or any of the military designs. Motorcycle clubs may have challenge coins shaped like the Harley Davidson wings, or perhaps a flying eagle, or a skull and crossbones. The design is only limited by imagination and budget.

The metal used in the coin and the thickness of the coin will affect the price considerably, but using a precious metal will give the challenge coin more value, even to non-members of the group. Gold is gold, and if the coin is solid or plated gold, it has a value to anyone. Silver is a very nice precious metal whose value is continuously climbing. Perhaps a silver cross that is 5 mm thick is more your speed. Bronze is the least expensive of the precious metals normally used for challenge coins. It’s pretty and durable as well.

Custom coins have options—lots and lots of options. They can be sandblasted for extra gloss or laser engraved for greater detail. They can be sequentially numbered to increase their value, verifying their authenticity and limited release. Parts of the design can be cut out or raised. Designs can be 3-D or 5 color. Silver is available in .999 purity; gold is available in one-ounce 24K coins.

Custom challenge coins are the perfect choice for special members of an uncommon group. They can be as unique as the groups they represent. They can be diverse in material make-up and thickness. Custom coins can have innumerable shapes and variations for sequential events, like New Year’s Eve 2010, 2011, and likewise.

Posted in Challenge Coins, Custom Challenge Coins | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Semper Fi Challenge Coins

Posted on September 16, 2010 by admin
USMC Challenge Coins

The United States Marine Corps has deep roots with challenge coins.

Military challenge coins are a symbolic reminder of the very strong bond between marines. Semper Fi (always faithful) are the words a marine lives and dies by. Marines live together, eat together, train together, fight and die together. The lifelong bond that develops between marines is as strong as or stronger than the bond between mother and child. Military challenge coins help to reaffirm this bond.

Military coins are usually manufactured out of brass or other metals. They can also be made with enamel or photographic inserts on one side. There are a wide variety of designs and styles. Some challenge coins are silver plated, some feature high relief and others are very simple. All are designed to be given to marines as a symbol of their camaraderie, faith and pride in their unit. The challenge coins usually will show the unit name, marine insignia and year. They come in various sizes and colors and are personalized for each group of marines.

The exact origin of the military challenge coin is not easy to pinpoint. Some accounts trace it back as far as the Civil War, when soldiers going off to battle would be given a special coin to carry with them. Away from home, the young man used the coin as a reminder of why he was fighting.

Another scenario says that during World War One, an American soldier, carrying a coin made for each member of his squadron, was found by the French army. Upon showing his coin, he was welcomed with a bottle of wine. Over the years, a tradition grew amongst members of the same unit to show their challenge coin. If they could not produce it, they would have to buy the marine who made the challenge a drink. If they showed the challenge coin, they got the free drink.

Yet another variation of how the Marine challenge coin developed comes from the Vietnam War era. A group of marines enjoying a little distraction from the war would find themselves in a local bar. The first marine would take out his special challenge coin and slam it on the bar. All of the others would follow. The last of the group had to buy a round for everyone.

Today, challenge coins are often traded and exchanged. It is a sentimental way to remember good friends long after they have left the Service. Veterans display collections of challenge coins from all their friends.

They are after all, “the few, the proud, the Marines.”

Posted in Challenge Coins, Challenge Coins History, Marine Challenge Coins, Military Coins | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Start Collecting Challenge Coins

Posted on September 10, 2010 by admin

Challenge coins are customized coins that are given to each member of a special organization or group. It symbolizes their membership or participation in that group. Once you are given a challenge coin it is important that you keep it with you wherever you go.

What happens to these coins when a member of the services or group dies, loses interest in the group, or loses their coins? It may fall upon a collector of challenge coins. If you just found your first challenge coin you may want to start collecting more.

Challenge coins are also military coins, which can be pure bronze coins plated in gold or other precious metals and display a significant image of the armed service branch they served in. However, there are challenge coins for federal groups, organizational groups, civilians, and more.

If you want to be a collector, you may want to start looking for these coins at auctions, like eBay. There are many different types of coins that you can come across at an auction. If it is an estate auction, you may find a challenge coin buried deep inside some miscellaneous items so make sure you look through everything very carefully. One may wonder how valuable these coins really are. Challenge coins can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Before you begin collecting, decide what branch, group, or organization you want to collect. If you want to collect the Air Force challenge coins then try to look specifically for these. You can collect more than one branch at a time but it makes collecting more exciting if you have one particular coin you are trying to find. After you decide on a particular challenge coin, you may want to do your research on that type of challenge coin. There is a lot of information available online today and you can find endless information on any particular subject, including challenge coins.

When you do your research, you will find a lot of valuable information about how challenge coins were created and why they were created. Most of the time, they were created because the commander or lieutenant wanted to give his men something to remember what they had accomplished and to always have something to reflect on. These coins to a collector symbolize money but to the original person who received it, it stood for sacrifice, hard work, and accomplishment.

Posted in Challenge Coins, Collecting Challenge Coins | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments